4 out of 4 stars
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Beneath the Bedrock by Julien Bradley is a fiction novel that chronicles the events following the death of Buddy Altman, Ramona Brady-Strong’s father. The exhilarating incidents that follow present an enthralling romance story full of many unexpected twists.
As Ramona, better known as Mony, leaves Minnesota for Williston, North Dakota, she meets John, a lawyer representing the Monroe Oil Company. Their attraction to each other is instant but Mony is not willing to pursue the relationship further. When they meet again, they realize they are fighting on opposite ends of the brewing battle for mineral rights. With Buddy’s death, new investors looking to snatch away Ramona’s inheritance crop up. When Mony arrives home, she is met by the Fergusons, her long-time family friends. Nate Ferguson is more than glad to see her and hopes to rekindle what they lost in their teenage years. Unraveling the hidden memories comes at a cost along with unbearable pain for everyone involved.
I found the setting of the story befitting the novel. Williston is a small town where everyone seems to know everyone. As Bradley reveals the drama surrounding the plot, the slow-paced life in Williston provides a great backdrop that allows the story to stand out. The characters are also enhanced by the setting. Shannon, a former schoolmate of Mony, seems to know a lot about the Fergusons and Altmans and she uses her knowledge to try and get what she wants. The important role that the two families play and their stature in the community is easily understood through the size and slow-paced nature of the town.
Bradley designs an engaging conflict from the start of the book to its end. On one hand, there is John, a modern, ambitious and calculating lawyer who is used to getting what he wants. The prospect of pursuing Ramona has him hooked and he is willing to do everything he needs to do to have her for himself. Then there is Nate Ferguson, the rock star who already has deep history with her. Nate cannot entertain the thought of losing Ramona again. To him, she is back and she is now his and nothing can change that.
It was a little disappointing that the book is part of a series. It is the first of the Bakken Series and some aspects of the story are left incomplete. I would have wanted to know more. Still, the story is a delightful read and it is also well-written. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates romance stories that contain family secrets and strands of legal battles. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
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Beneath The Bedrock
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